QPR defender
Anton Ferdinand will refuse to shake
John Terry’s hand when Chelsea travel to Loftus Road for the west London derby this afternoon, sources have suggested.

Anton Ferdinand looks set to ignore John Terry in the pre-match handshake (Picture: AFP)

Terry was cleared of racially abusing Ferdinand during the corresponding fixture last season, but the Hoops’ defender has refused to let the matter slide, with Terry still set to face an FA disciplinary hearing this month.

Ferdinand has also suggested he may snub Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole , who appeared as a witness for Terry during the trial at Westminster Magistrates Court in July.The 27-year-old QPR defender met with boss Mark Hughes and fellow players yesterday to discuss the issue, but the manager says he accepts each player will make his own decision as to whether to shake the Chelsea captain’s hand.

Ferdinand’s team-mate Bobby Zamora has already confirmed he has no intention of snubbing John Terry before the match, as the pair are old friends and Zamora didn’t join the Hoops until January, after the controversial game last October.

John Terry has been passed fit for the encounter after missing England’s match against Ukraine in midweek (Picture: Action Images)

And manager Hughes says he intends to let each player have the final say on what they do.

‘Everyone has a mind of their own and will make a personal decision,’ said the former Chelsea forward.

‘We’ve had a discussion with the players but that’s between myself and them. It is unfortunate they are put in a situation where it is put in the public domain.

‘I have got my view on handshakes before games and the people at the Premier League know my feelings.’

Hughes’ opposite number and former Chelsea team-mate Roberto di Matteo has urged QPR’s players to respect the handshake and insists his players have no problem with doing so.

‘Hopefully, everybody will focus on football and move on,’ said the Italian.

Hughes and Di Matteo will be hoping the pre-match events do not detract from the match (Picture: Daily Mail)

‘That’s the most important aspect. The Premier League is watched all over the world and we have to set a positive standard for the spectators.

‘The handshake is just part of that. Hopefully, the game will be played in good spirit.

‘Our guys are fine. They are respecting the rules and are going to go ahead with it.’

But Hughes believes the pre-match tradition should be scrapped, enabling these sorts of situations to be avoided.

‘The thing is, it’s about the Respect campaign and we all fully support it,’ he added.

‘I think it’s done fantastic work and it is to be commended.

‘But maybe this part of showing respect is, at times, fundamentally flawed. On the occasions it was scrapped last season I thought it helped the situation.